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IMDbPro

Questlove

  • Music Department
  • Actor
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Questlove
James Brown: Say It Loud
Play trailer2:00
James Brown: Say It Loud (2024– )
15 Videos
78 Photos
Academy Award-winning filmmaker, drummer, DJ, producer, director, culinary entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, and member of The Roots - Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, is the unmistakable heartbeat of Philadelphia's most influential hip-hop group. He is the Musical Director for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where his beloved Roots crew serves as house band. Beyond that, this 6-time GRAMMY Award winning musician's indisputable reputation has landed him musical directing positions for everyone from D'Angelo to Jay-Z. Questlove made his directorial debut with the Academy Award winning feature documentary Summer of Soul. The movie broke the record for the highest-selling documentary to come out of Sundance, and it has since gone on to win "Best Feature Documentary" at the 2022 Academy Awards, "Best Documentary" at the 2022 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) and "Best Music Film" at the 2022 Grammy Awards, as well as a Peabody Award. In addition, Summer of Soul was crowned the "Best Movie of 2021" by The New York Times and included among the "best of the year" by The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, TIME Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone and more. Outside of Summer of Soul, Questlove partnered together with Black Thought of The Roots to launch a production company, Two One Five Entertainment. Together, the pair announced a first-look deal with Universal Television to develop scripted and non-scripted programming. In 2022, the company executive produced the acclaimed feature documentary Descendant about the historic discovery of The Clotilda-the last known slave ship to arrive in America illegally transporting enslaved Africans. The documentary, which made its world premiere at Sundance in 2022, was acquired by Netflix and Higher Ground-President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company. The film earned an impressive three nominations for "Best Documentary Feature," "Best Director," and "Best Historical Documentary" and took home the award for "Best Historical Documentary" at the 2022 Critics Choice Documentary Awards. It also received a nomination for "Outstanding Documentary" for the 2023 NAACP Image Awards and was also named one of the "Top 5 Documentaries" of 2022 by the National Board of Review. Questlove's web series, Quest for Craft, produced by Two One Five and launched in partnership with the single malt whiskey brand, The Balvenie, took home a Webby Award in 2023. Up next, Questlove will make his feature film directing debut with a live-action hybrid re-imagining of The Aristocats for Walt Disney Studios. Two One Five is set to produce the film alongside Olive Bridge. Questlove has written multiple books, including the New York Times bestsellers Mo' Meta Blues, Creative Quest, Music is History, and The Rhythm of Time, as well as the GRAMMY nominated audio books Music Is History and Creative Quest. Expanding his literary endeavors, in 2023 he launched his own book imprint, AUWA Books, within MCD Books, a publishing division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The imprint will publish both nonfiction and fiction on a wide range of topics.
BornJanuary 20, 1971
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJanuary 20, 1971
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 25 wins & 42 nominations total

    Photos78

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    Known for

    Mavis Staples in Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
    Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
    8.0
    • Producer(as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
    • 2021
    Chris Rock, Gabrielle Union, Cedric The Entertainer, Rosario Dawson, Hassan Johnson, Leslie Jones, Karlie Redd, Romany Malco, Tracy Morgan, Sherri Shepherd, Hayley Marie Norman, J.B. Smoove, Anders Holm, and Michael Che in Top Five (2014)
    Top Five
    6.4
    • Music Department(as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
    • 2014
    Anthony Mackie, Will Poulter, John Boyega, and Algee Smith in Detroit (2017)
    Detroit
    7.3
    • Soundtrack(as Ahmir Thompson, "It Ain't Fair")
    • 2017
    Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Penélope Cruz, Owen Wilson, and Kristen Wiig in Zoolander 2 (2016)
    Zoolander 2
    4.7
    • Soundtrack(as Ahmir Thompson, "Here I Come")
    • 2016

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Music Department



    • The 65th Annual Grammy Awards (2023)
      The 65th Annual Grammy Awards
      5.2
      TV Special
      • musical director
      • 2023
    • Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom
      TV Special
      • musical director
      • 2022
    • Questlove, Tariq Trotter, R Kita, Donovan Monzon-Sanders, Alexander Bello, Sarah Vattano, and Nia Thompson in Rise Up, Sing Out (2022)
      Rise Up, Sing Out
      4.2
      TV Series
      • music
      • 2022
    • The Oscars (2021)
      The Oscars
      3.7
      TV Special
      • musical director (as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
      • 2021
    • Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey in Soul (2020)
      Soul
      8.0
      • music consultant (as Ahmir-Khalib Thompson a.k.a. Questlove)
      • 2020
    • Zoë Kravitz in High Fidelity (2020)
      High Fidelity
      7.7
      TV Series
      • executive music producer
      • 2020
    • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014)
      The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
      7.0
      TV Series
      • musician: The Roots
      • composer: theme music
      • musician: The Roots - Drums
      • 2014–2018
    • Night of Too Many Stars (2017)
      Night of Too Many Stars
      5.3
      TV Special
      • musical director (as Ahmir-Khalib Thompson)
      • 2017
    • Hamilton's America (2016)
      Hamilton's America
      8.3
      TV Movie
      • composer: additional music (as Ahmir-Khalib Thompson)
      • 2016
    • Malachi Kirby in Roots (2016)
      Roots
      7.9
      TV Mini Series
      • executive music producer (as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
      • 2016
    • Amy Schumer in Inside Amy Schumer (2013)
      Inside Amy Schumer
      6.1
      TV Series
      • composer: theme music (as Ahmir-Khalib Thompson)
      • 2013–2015
    • Neil Patrick Harris in The Oscars (2015)
      The Oscars
      6.5
      TV Special
      • special appearances (as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
      • 2015
    • Chris Rock, Gabrielle Union, Cedric The Entertainer, Rosario Dawson, Hassan Johnson, Leslie Jones, Karlie Redd, Romany Malco, Tracy Morgan, Sherri Shepherd, Hayley Marie Norman, J.B. Smoove, Anders Holm, and Michael Che in Top Five (2014)
      Top Five
      6.4
      • executive music producer (as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
      • 2014
    • Jimmy Fallon in Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2009)
      Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
      6.7
      TV Series
      • composer: theme music
      • musician: The Roots
      • musical director
      • 2009–2014
    • 2012 Soul Train Awards (2012)
      2012 Soul Train Awards
      7.0
      TV Special
      • composer: additional music (as ?uestlove)
      • 2012

    Actor



    • Spinal Tap II
      • Completed
      • 2025



    • Quest for Craft (2021)
      Quest for Craft
      TV Series
      • 2021–2024
    • Mulligan (2023)
      Mulligan
      4.9
      TV Series
      • Questlove (voice, as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
      • 2023–2024
    • Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, William Stanford Davis, Tyler James Williams, Chris Perfetti, Quinta Brunson, and Janelle James in Abbott Elementary (2021)
      Abbott Elementary
      8.2
      TV Series
      • Questlove
      • 2024
    • David Costabile, Jeffrey DeMunn, Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, Corey Stoll, Kelly AuCoin, Maggie Siff, Asia Kate Dillon, and Dola Rashad in Billions (2016)
      Billions
      8.3
      TV Series
      • Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson (as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
      • 2022
    • Questlove, Tariq Trotter, R Kita, Donovan Monzon-Sanders, Alexander Bello, Sarah Vattano, and Nia Thompson in Rise Up, Sing Out (2022)
      Rise Up, Sing Out
      4.2
      TV Series
      • (voice)
      • 2022
    • Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey in Soul (2020)
      Soul
      8.0
      • Curley (voice, as Ahmir-Khalib Thompson a.k.a. Questlove)
      • 2020
    • Brittany Snow, Gina Rodriguez, and DeWanda Wise in Someone Great (2019)
      Someone Great
      6.2
      • Questlove (as Ahmir-Khalib Thompson)
      • 2019
    • Angélique Kidjo Feat. Alicia Keys & Questlove and Blood Orange: The Great Curve (2018)
      Angélique Kidjo Feat. Alicia Keys & Questlove and Blood Orange: The Great Curve
      Music Video
      • Questlove
      • 2018
    • Steve Agee, Seth Herzog, Dave Hill, and Jordan Carlos in Boy Band (2018)
      Boy Band
      6.3
      • Alien (as Ahmir-Khalib Thompson)
      • 2018
    • VerseAtility III: Rewind (2016)
      VerseAtility III: Rewind
      7.9
      Short
      • Questlove (as Ahmir-Khalib Thompson)
      • 2016
    • Jorma Taccone, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and The Lonely Island in Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
      Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
      6.7
      • Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson
      • The Roots (as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
      • 2016
    • Amy Schumer in Inside Amy Schumer (2013)
      Inside Amy Schumer
      6.1
      TV Series
      • Drummer (as Ahmir '?uestlove' Thompson)
      • 2016
    • Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson in Empire (2015)
      Empire
      7.4
      TV Series
      • Questlove (voice)
      • 2015
    • Adam Goldberg, Michael Ian Black, Jim Gaffigan, Ashley Williams, and Tongayi Chirisa in The Jim Gaffigan Show (2015)
      The Jim Gaffigan Show
      7.5
      TV Series
      • Questlove
      • 2015
    • Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, Jim O'Heir, Nick Offerman, Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt, Retta, Aziz Ansari, and Aubrey Plaza in Parks and Recreation (2009)
      Parks and Recreation
      8.6
      TV Series
      • LeVondrious Meagle
      • 2015

    Producer



    • I Was Born This Way
      • executive producer
      • Completed
      • 2025
    • Untitled Earth, Wind & Fire Documentary Project
      • producer
      • Pre-production
      • 2025
    • Dilla Time
      • executive producer
      • Pre-production
    • The Aristocats
      • executive producer
      • Pre-production



    • Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025)
      Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
      8.1
      TV Special
      • executive producer (as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
      • 2025
    • Sly Stone in Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) (2025)
      Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)
      7.6
      • executive producer (as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
      • 2025
    • James Brown: Say It Loud (2024)
      James Brown: Say It Loud
      7.9
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • producer
      • 2024
    • A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop (2023)
      A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop
      6.7
      TV Special
      • executive producer (as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
      • 2023
    • The League (2023)
      The League
      7.5
      • executive producer (as Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson)
      • 2023
    • Questlove, Tariq Trotter, R Kita, Donovan Monzon-Sanders, Alexander Bello, Sarah Vattano, and Nia Thompson in Rise Up, Sing Out (2022)
      Rise Up, Sing Out
      4.2
      TV Series
      • executive producer (as Ahmir Thompson)
      • 2022
    • Descendant (2022)
      Descendant
      7.1
      • executive producer
      • 2022
    • Mavis Staples in Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
      Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
      8.0
      • executive producer (as Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson)
      • 2021
    • Ginger Kearns and Chelsey Ng in Murderville (2020)
      Murderville
      6.7
      TV Movie
      • executive producer (as Quest Love)
      • 2020
    • 40 Years a Prisoner (2020)
      40 Years a Prisoner
      7.2
      • executive producer (as Quest Love)
      • 2020
    • Ricky Powell: The Individualist (2020)
      Ricky Powell: The Individualist
      7.5
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America (2019)
      Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
      7.9
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2019
    • Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America (2019)
      Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America
      7.7
      TV Movie
      • executive producer (as Ahmir-Khalib Thompson)
      • 2019
    • SPARKLE: A Don Quixote Story
      TV Mini Series
      • producer (as Ahmir-Khalib Thompson)
      • 2016
    • SoundClash (2014)
      SoundClash
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2014

    Videos15

    Angela Bassett, Jamie Foxx, and Tina Fey Share Life Lessons Learned From 'Soul'
    Clip 2:39
    Angela Bassett, Jamie Foxx, and Tina Fey Share Life Lessons Learned From 'Soul'
    Sneak Peek
    Trailer 1:01
    Sneak Peek
    Sneak Peek
    Trailer 1:01
    Sneak Peek
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Official Trailer
    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 1:33
    Theatrical Trailer
    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:43
    Theatrical Trailer
    The Reverend
    Trailer 2:39
    The Reverend

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official site
      • X
    • Alternative names
      • ?uestlove
    • Height
      • 6′ 4″ (1.93 m)
    • Born
      • January 20, 1971
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Parents
        Lee Andrews
    • Relatives
        Donn Thompson(Sibling)
    • Other works
      Rap album with The Roots, "The Roots Come Alive" (MCA Records).
    • Publicity listings
      • 4 Interviews
      • 2 Articles
      • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Drummer for the rap group The Roots.
    • Quotes
      [on Will Smith appearing at the 2023 Grammys] I'll give the spoiler alert away. Will Smith was a part of the festivities tonight, but they started shooting Bad Boys 4 already this week, and there's a lot of preliminary shots that he had to do, so we had to lose Will. But that was gonna be a surprise moment. ... It was a shot in the dark. I knew-he's always shooting movies
    • Trademark
        His high pitched laugh
    • Nicknames
      • Brother ?uestion
      • ?uestlove
      • Questlove

    FAQ

    Powered by Alexa
    • How old is Questlove?
      54 years old
    • When was Questlove born?
      January 20, 1971
    • Where was Questlove born?
      Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
    • What is Questlove's birth name?
      Ahmir Khalib Thompson
    • How tall is Questlove?
      6 feet 4 inches, or 1.93 meters

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